he was only allowed two letters a year from his family. >> president obama and his family toured robben island during their first visit to south africa in june into word of any son mandela's death spread quickly around the world and the united states, of course. for many americans his death was like losing one of his own. >> president obama met the leader in 2005 and he and the first lady visited south africa in june but they were unable to meet with mandela due to his failing health. the president paid tribute to the falling icon counting himself among the millions influenced by mandela. >> the day he was released from prison gave me a sense of what human beings can do when they're guided by their hopes and not by their fears. and like so many around the globe, i cannot fully imagine my own life without the example that will nelson mandela set. >> want to bring in andrew young, civil rights leader and former ambassador to the united nations. welcome, as well as james joseph, former u.s. ambassador to south africa and duke university professor, both of who new mandela very well on a per